Antibacterial disinfectants are used to quickly kill most germs on surfaces, preventing the spread of disease. They come in sprays, wipes, and concentrated solutions. Hand sanitizers are also available, but overuse can promote the growth of resistant bacteria. Medical facilities use disinfectants between patients to prevent disease transfer.
An antibacterial sanitizer is a product designed to disinfect an area quickly, meaning that most of the germs are killed off. Disinfectants don’t create a sterile environment, but they certainly make a space cleaner and can prevent the spread of disease. Medical facilities tend to keep large stocks of antibacterial disinfectant on hand, with staff using disinfectants between patients to prevent disease transfer, and people may also use these products at home.
Disinfectants are usually designed to be used on surfaces, rather than the body, like antiseptics. The antibacterial disinfectant can come in a spray bottle that is used to spray an area before cleaning it, and can also come in the form of pads and wipes intended for single use. Medical facilities also purchase large containers of concentrated disinfectant that can be added to washcloth water, laundry loads, and other cleaning solutions to efficiently remove bacteria.
You can also find antibacterial hand sanitizer, which usually comes in the form of a gel that is rubbed vigorously into the hands. The gel dries quickly, so there’s no need to rinse or wipe it off, although some people don’t like the residue that can be left behind from a hand sanitizer product. Hand sanitizing wipes are also available, with some companies adding moisturizers so frequent users don’t end up with dry, cracked hands from regular use of sanitizer.
In a clinical setting, using an antibacterial disinfectant can be very important. Typically, all items in a clinic or hospital are designed to be quickly cleared between patients, with things like bed sheets and bed covers being replaced. While disinfectant doesn’t remove all germs, it usually kills about 99 percent, making it less likely that germs will be passed from patient to patient.
The problem with disinfectants is that when used regularly, they can promote the growth of resistant bacteria. When 99% of the bacteria in an area are killed, this creates a great opportunity for more bacteria to grow. Bacteria that are not killed can go on to develop large colonies that cannot be killed by an antibacterial disinfectant, resulting in the spread of resistant bacteria throughout a facility. For this reason, some establishments like to change brands frequently and use very aggressive products.
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